European parliamentarians call on investigation into manipulations at the Serbian elections

NordenBladet —

In light of allegations of massive electoral manipulations, the parliamentarians call on the EU to conduct an independent investigation of all reported election irregularities and claims of fraud during the elections that took place on 17 December. “Our common goal is to see Serbia as a member of the European Union within this decade. A necessary requirement for this is a functioning democracy and the rule of law. The massive electoral manipulations observed by the international election observation mission and independent civil society observers are clear violations of the principles of free, equal, and secret elections and incompatible with this requirement,” the parliamentarians write, and add that this raises grave concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral results.

According to the open letter, these events and the repressive state response in their aftermath indicate a further escalation in the autocratic development of the country. “This development includes Serbia’s continued cooperation with the Russian Federation regardless of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This poses a critical threat towards the stability of the entire Western Balkans. If there is no common European response now, it will invite similar actions by actors in neighbouring states in the future,” the European parliamentarians state in the open letter.

The parliamentarians call on the EU to support an independent investigation by the European Parliament into the allegations of electoral manipulation, to draft a list of recommendations to ensure free, equal, and secret elections, and a conditioning of further funding and progress in the accession process on their implementation before the next elections. Depending on the findings of the investigation, they invite the EU to call for a repetition of the elections.

The open letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the EU Special Representative has been signed by 24 parliamentarians from Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the European Parliament. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson signed the open letter on behalf of Estonia.

Full text of the open letter

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: European parliamentarians call on investigation into manipulations at the Serbian elections

Source: Parliament of Estonia